How much can a Florida homebuyer receive through HOPER?

Florida homebuyers can receive up to 3.5% of their purchase price with a maximum of $13,000. On a $250,000 home that is $8,750. On a $371,000 or higher home that is the full $13,000 maximum.

Florida Down Payment Assistance 2025 | HOPER Program — No Income Limits

🌴 Florida Homebuyer Program — Statewide

Florida down payment help
with no income limits

Florida’s official DPA programs reject thousands of buyers every year for earning “too much.” HOPER doesn’t have income limits. Get up to $13,000 toward your FHA home purchase — no income test, no repayment, no second lien.

$13,000Max Funds

3.5%Of Purchase Price

$0Repayment

NoneIncome Limit

Available across Florida including:

TampaOrlandoJacksonville MiamiFort LauderdaleFort Myers NaplesPensacola+ All Florida Counties

Up to $13,000

In homebuyer funds · No repayment · No income limit

Free Eligibility Check

See If You Qualify for HOPER

Takes 60 seconds. No credit pull. We’ll call you within 5 minutes.

HOPER Funds Calculator

How much could you receive
on your Florida home?

Enter your estimated purchase price and see your HOPER funds instantly.

Enter your estimated Florida purchase price:

Your estimated HOPER funds

$10,500

Based on 3.5% of $300,000

* Maximum $13,000. Actual amount subject to program eligibility and approval.

Florida DPA Programs vs. HOPER

Every Florida down payment program
— and what they leave out

Florida Housing Finance Corporation runs several DPA programs. Here is the full picture — including why tens of thousands of Florida buyers get turned away every year, and what HOPER does differently.

Program	Max Assistance	Income Limit	Repayment	Who Gets Left Out
FL Assist (Florida Housing)	Up to $10,000	Yes — varies by county	Deferred — due on sale/refi	Middle-income buyers in Tampa, Orlando, Miami metros
FL HLP Second Mortgage	Up to $10,000	Yes — income capped	Yes — $100/mo payments	Buyers who can’t afford a second monthly payment
3%, 4%, 5% Plus (Florida Housing)	3–5% of loan amount	Yes — strict limits	Forgivable after 5 years	Dual-income households, higher earners statewide
Orange County DPA (Orlando)	Up to $35,000	Yes — 80% AMI max	Forgiven after 10 yrs	Anyone above low-income in Orlando metro
City of Tampa SHIP Program	Up to $14,999	Yes — very strict	Deferred loan	Most working-class Tampa buyers
✦ HOPER via CloseReady	Up to $13,000 (3.5%)	No income limit	Never — $0 repayment	Nobody — all FHA buyers welcome

The Florida reality: Florida’s housing market has seen dramatic price increases since 2020 — especially in Tampa, Orlando, and Southwest Florida. HOPER fills the gap left by income-restricted DPA programs with no income test whatsoever.

Florida Markets

HOPER is available across
all of Florida

From the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic, from the Panhandle to South Florida — if you are buying with an FHA loan anywhere in Florida, you may qualify for HOPER.

🌊 Tampa / St. Pete

Median FHA home price: ~$250,000–$360,000. The Tampa Bay area has been one of Florida’s fastest-growing markets — and one of the hardest for first-time buyers trying to save a down payment.

HOPER funds on $280K home: $9,800

🎢 Orlando / Central FL

Median FHA home price: ~$270,000–$380,000. Orlando’s population boom has pushed home prices well beyond what traditional DPA programs were designed to handle.

HOPER funds on $320K home: $11,200

🌁 Jacksonville

Median FHA home price: ~$200,000–$300,000. Jacksonville remains one of Florida’s most accessible FHA markets — HOPER closes the remaining gap between pre-approval and closing day.

HOPER funds on $230K home: $8,050

🌆 Miami / Fort Lauderdale

Median FHA home price: ~$350,000–$500,000. South Florida’s high prices mean nearly every FHA buyer hits HOPER’s $13,000 maximum — highest value market for the program.

HOPER funds on $371K+ home: $13,000 (max)

🌺 Fort Myers / Naples

Median FHA home price: ~$250,000–$400,000. Southwest Florida saw massive price appreciation post-2020. Manufactured home buyers here are especially underserved — HOPER covers them too.

HOPER funds on $300K home: $10,500

⚓ Pensacola / Panhandle

Median FHA home price: ~$180,000–$280,000. The Florida Panhandle offers strong value for FHA buyers and a large manufactured housing market — both well-served by HOPER.

HOPER funds on $210K home: $7,350

Complete Guide

Florida Homebuyer Assistance in 2025:
The Full Picture

Why Florida’s Housing Market Is So Hard for First-Time Buyers

Florida has been one of the fastest-growing states in the country since 2020 — and that growth has made homeownership dramatically harder for first-time buyers. Between 2020 and 2024, median home prices in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami rose by 50–80%. Wages did not keep pace.

The result is a widening gap between FHA pre-approval and the ability to close. A buyer pre-approved for a $300,000 FHA loan needs $10,500 in down payment alone — before a single dollar of closing costs. For someone paying $1,800–$2,200 in Florida rent while trying to save, that gap can take years to close.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation Programs — And Their Limits

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) administers the state’s official DPA programs — FL Assist, FL HLP, and the 3/4/5% Plus programs. These are legitimate programs with real funding. But they share a critical flaw: income limits that exclude the majority of Florida’s working buyers.

In Hillsborough County (Tampa), the 2025 income limit for a family of four is approximately $91,000. In Miami-Dade, where the cost of living has skyrocketed, limits are similarly restrictive. A dual-income couple earning $100,000 combined — not wealthy by any Florida metro standard — is completely disqualified from every state program.

Turned away by Florida Housing programs? HOPER has no income limits.

If you have been rejected or assume you earn too much for Florida DPA programs, check your HOPER eligibility in 60 seconds — no income test, no credit pull.

Check Florida Eligibility Free →

What Makes HOPER Different in Florida

HOPER — the Hope for Homeownership Research Project — is administered by Attainable Housing Advocates. Because HOPER funds are research compensation rather than a loan or grant, there is no repayment requirement and no second lien on your Florida home. The funds are yours to apply toward your down payment, closing costs, a rate buydown to lower your monthly payment, or qualified debt payoff.

For Florida FHA buyers, HOPER provides up to 3.5% of the purchase price with a maximum of $13,000. In South Florida, where prices routinely exceed $370,000, nearly every FHA buyer qualifies for the full $13,000 maximum.

Florida Manufactured Home Buyers

Florida has one of the largest manufactured housing markets in the United States — particularly in retirement communities, rural counties, and Southwest Florida. Most DPA programs and many conventional lenders refuse to work with manufactured home loans. HOPER supports FHA loans for manufactured housing in Florida, making it one of the only programs available to this significant and underserved segment of Florida buyers.

How to Get Started in Florida

CloseReady enrolls qualified Florida homebuyers directly into the HOPER program. When you fill out the eligibility form on this page, a specialist calls within 5 minutes. There are no lengthy applications, no in-person classes, and no weeks-long waiting periods. You will know your eligibility status the same day you apply.

Florida FAQ

Florida homebuyer questions
answered

Is there down payment assistance in Florida with no income limit?

Yes. HOPER, available through CloseReady, has no income limits. Florida Housing Finance Corporation programs all have income caps — but HOPER is open to any FHA-eligible buyer in Florida regardless of income.

How much can I get for a down payment in Florida through HOPER?

Up to 3.5% of your purchase price with a maximum of $13,000. On a $250,000 Jacksonville home that is $8,750. On a $371,000 or higher Miami or Tampa home, that is the full $13,000 maximum.

Do I have to repay HOPER funds in Florida?

Never. HOPER funds are research program compensation — not a loan. There is no repayment requirement and no second lien placed on your Florida home. Unlike FL Assist which is deferred until you sell or refinance, HOPER is yours to keep.

Can I use HOPER with an FHA loan in Tampa, Orlando, or Miami?

Yes. HOPER is available statewide across Florida — Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Naples, Pensacola, and all Florida counties. There are no geographic restrictions within the state.

Is there down payment help for manufactured homes in Florida?

Yes. Florida has one of the country’s largest manufactured housing markets and most programs exclude it. HOPER supports FHA loans for manufactured homes in Florida — one of the very few programs that does.

What if I was rejected by Florida Housing or a local DPA program?

HOPER was built for exactly this situation. If you were turned away because you earn too much, because your county was not covered, or for any other reason — check your HOPER eligibility. There is no income limit and no geographic restriction within Florida.

Florida buyers — stop waiting.
Start closing.

Check your HOPER eligibility free. No income test. No credit pull. We call you in 5 minutes.

Check My Florida Eligibility — Free →

Available statewide · Tampa · Orlando · Jacksonville · Miami · Fort Myers · Pensacola · All Florida Counties

Florida down payment helpwith no income limits